diff --git a/src/lib/admins.svelte.ts b/src/lib/admins.svelte.ts
index 7345f65..9848cc5 100644
--- a/src/lib/admins.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/admins.svelte.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { MODE } from "$lib/config";
 import { groupStore } from "$lib/group.svelte";
 import { queryForum } from "$lib/relay";
+import { fetchRoomAdmins } from "$lib/forum/groups";
 
 // room id -> admin pubkeys (NIP-29 kind 39001 `p` tags), across all rooms.
 let byRoom = $state<Record<string, string[]>>({});
@@ -48,17 +49,7 @@ export async function loadRoomAdmins(roomIds: string[]) {
   loadedKey = key;
 
   try {
-    const events = await queryForum({
-      kinds: [39001],
-      "#d": roomIds,
-    });
-    const map: Record<string, string[]> = {};
-    for (const e of events) {
-      const d = e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "d")?.[1];
-      if (!d) continue;
-      map[d] = e.tags.filter((t) => t[0] === "p" && t[1]).map((t) => t[1]);
-    }
-    byRoom = map;
+    byRoom = await fetchRoomAdmins(queryForum, roomIds);
   } finally {
     loaded = true;
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/groups.ts b/src/lib/forum/groups.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..846f50c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/groups.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import type { Event } from "@nostr/tools/core";
+import { tag, tags, type Query } from "./query";
+
+export type GroupSummary = {
+  id: string; // NIP-29 group id (the `d` tag) — also the room URL slug
+  name: string;
+  picture?: string;
+  about?: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+  flags: string[]; // special NIP-29 markers present (private, hidden, closed, restricted)
+};
+
+export type GroupMetadata = {
+  name: string;
+  picture?: string;
+  about?: string;
+  isPrivate: boolean;
+  isClosed: boolean;
+  isRestricted: boolean;
+  isHidden: boolean;
+  admins: string[];
+};
+
+const SPECIAL_FLAGS = ["private", "hidden", "closed", "restricted"];
+
+function parseSummary(e: Event): GroupSummary {
+  const id = tag(e, "d") ?? "";
+  return {
+    id,
+    name: tag(e, "name") ?? id,
+    picture: tag(e, "picture"),
+    about: tag(e, "about"),
+    createdAt: e.created_at,
+    flags: SPECIAL_FLAGS.filter((f) => e.tags.some((t) => t[0] === f)),
+  };
+}
+
+// Every group the relay serves this visitor (kind 39000), oldest first.
+export async function fetchGroups(q: Query): Promise<GroupSummary[]> {
+  const events = await q({ kinds: [39000] });
+  return events
+    .map(parseSummary)
+    .filter((g) => g.id)
+    .sort((a, b) => a.createdAt - b.createdAt);
+}
+
+// One group's metadata plus its admins (kinds 39000 + 39001).
+export async function fetchGroup(
+  q: Query,
+  id: string,
+): Promise<GroupMetadata | null> {
+  const events = await q({ kinds: [39000, 39001], "#d": [id] });
+  const event = events.find((e) => e.kind === 39000);
+  if (!event) return null;
+  const adminsEvent = events.find((e) => e.kind === 39001);
+  return {
+    name: tag(event, "name") ?? id,
+    picture: tag(event, "picture"),
+    about: tag(event, "about"),
+    isPrivate: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "private"),
+    isClosed: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "closed"),
+    isRestricted: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "restricted"),
+    isHidden: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "hidden"),
+    admins: adminsEvent ? tags(adminsEvent, "p") : [],
+  };
+}
+
+// room id -> admin pubkeys (kind 39001 `p` tags) for the given rooms.
+export async function fetchRoomAdmins(
+  q: Query,
+  roomIds: string[],
+): Promise<Record<string, string[]>> {
+  if (roomIds.length === 0) return {};
+  const events = await q({ kinds: [39001], "#d": roomIds });
+  const map: Record<string, string[]> = {};
+  for (const e of events) {
+    const d = tag(e, "d");
+    if (d) map[d] = tags(e, "p");
+  }
+  return map;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/overview.ts b/src/lib/forum/overview.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad750b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/overview.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { tag, type Query } from "./query";
+
+export type RoomActivity = {
+  latestAt: number;
+  latestPubkey: string;
+};
+
+export type RecentThread = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  groupId: string;
+  authorPubkey: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+};
+
+export type Overview = {
+  activity: Record<string, RoomActivity>;
+  admins: Record<string, string>; // room id -> first admin pubkey
+  recent: RecentThread[];
+};
+
+const RECENT_LIMIT = 20;
+
+// Landing data across rooms: each room's last activity and first admin (for
+// the room cards) and the most recent threads overall (for the side panel).
+// The group relay truncates multi-value "#h" filters, so rooms are queried
+// one by one and merged.
+export async function fetchOverview(
+  q: Query,
+  roomIds: string[],
+): Promise<Overview> {
+  const latest = await Promise.all(
+    roomIds.map((id) => q({ kinds: [11, 1111], "#h": [id], limit: 1 })),
+  );
+  const activity: Record<string, RoomActivity> = {};
+  roomIds.forEach((id, i) => {
+    const e = latest[i][0];
+    if (e) activity[id] = { latestAt: e.created_at, latestPubkey: e.pubkey };
+  });
+
+  const adminEvents = await Promise.all(
+    roomIds.map((id) => q({ kinds: [39001], "#d": [id] })),
+  );
+  const admins: Record<string, string> = {};
+  roomIds.forEach((id, i) => {
+    const pk = adminEvents[i][0] ? tag(adminEvents[i][0], "p") : undefined;
+    if (pk) admins[id] = pk;
+  });
+
+  const perRoom = await Promise.all(
+    roomIds.map((id) => q({ kinds: [11], "#h": [id], limit: RECENT_LIMIT })),
+  );
+  const threads = perRoom.flat().sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
+  const recent = threads.slice(0, RECENT_LIMIT).map((e) => ({
+    id: e.id,
+    title: tag(e, "title") ?? "(untitled)",
+    groupId: tag(e, "h") ?? "",
+    authorPubkey: e.pubkey,
+    createdAt: e.created_at,
+  }));
+
+  return { activity, admins, recent };
+}
+
+export function overviewPubkeys(o: Overview): string[] {
+  return [
+    ...new Set([
+      ...Object.values(o.activity).map((a) => a.latestPubkey),
+      ...Object.values(o.admins),
+      ...o.recent.map((t) => t.authorPubkey),
+    ]),
+  ];
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/partials.ts b/src/lib/forum/partials.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60c37ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/partials.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { tag, type Query } from "./query";
+
+export type PartialSlot = "home" | "contacts";
+const SLOTS = new Set<string>(["home", "contacts"]);
+
+export type Partial = {
+  id: string;
+  slot: PartialSlot;
+  title: string;
+  content: string; // markdown body
+  pubkey: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+};
+
+// Every `squalk-partial` event for a known slot. Not admin-filtered nor
+// reduced to the newest per slot: both depend on the admin set.
+export async function fetchPartials(q: Query): Promise<Partial[]> {
+  const events = await q({ kinds: [30023], "#t": ["squalk-partial"] });
+  const out: Partial[] = [];
+  for (const e of events) {
+    const slot = tag(e, "d");
+    if (!slot || !SLOTS.has(slot)) continue;
+    out.push({
+      id: e.id,
+      slot: slot as PartialSlot,
+      title: tag(e, "title") ?? slot,
+      content: e.content,
+      pubkey: e.pubkey,
+      createdAt: e.created_at,
+    });
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+// The newest admin-authored partial for a slot.
+export function pickPartial(
+  all: Partial[],
+  slot: PartialSlot,
+  admins: string[],
+): Partial | undefined {
+  const set = new Set(admins);
+  let best: Partial | undefined;
+  for (const p of all) {
+    if (p.slot !== slot || !set.has(p.pubkey)) continue;
+    if (!best || p.createdAt > best.createdAt) best = p;
+  }
+  return best;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/profiles.ts b/src/lib/forum/profiles.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29208aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/profiles.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import type { Event } from "@nostr/tools/core";
+import * as nip19 from "@nostr/tools/nip19";
+import type { NostrUser } from "$lib/gadgets";
+import type { Query } from "./query";
+
+// Same shape @nostr/gadgets produces, built here from raw kind-0 events so the
+// server can resolve authors without that (browser-only) library.
+export function bareUser(pubkey: string): NostrUser {
+  const npub = nip19.npubEncode(pubkey);
+  return {
+    pubkey,
+    npub,
+    shortName: npub.substring(0, 8) + "…" + npub.substring(59),
+    metadata: {},
+    lastUpdated: 0,
+  };
+}
+
+export function userFromEvent(e: Event): NostrUser {
+  const u = bareUser(e.pubkey);
+  let md: NostrUser["metadata"] = {};
+  try {
+    md = JSON.parse(e.content) ?? {};
+  } catch {
+    // Malformed metadata: keep the bare user
+  }
+  u.metadata = md;
+  u.shortName =
+    md.name || md.display_name || md.nip05?.split("@")?.[0] || u.shortName;
+  u.lastUpdated = e.created_at;
+  if (md.picture) u.image = md.picture;
+  return u;
+}
+
+// Newest kind 0 per pubkey; pubkeys with no metadata are left out.
+export async function fetchProfiles(
+  q: Query,
+  pubkeys: string[],
+): Promise<Record<string, NostrUser>> {
+  const out: Record<string, NostrUser> = {};
+  if (pubkeys.length === 0) return out;
+  const events = await q({ kinds: [0], authors: pubkeys });
+  for (const e of events) {
+    const prev = out[e.pubkey];
+    if (prev && prev.lastUpdated >= e.created_at) continue;
+    out[e.pubkey] = userFromEvent(e);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/query.ts b/src/lib/forum/query.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..911715e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/query.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import type { AbstractRelay } from "@nostr/tools/abstract-relay";
+import type { Event } from "@nostr/tools/core";
+import type { Filter } from "@nostr/tools/filter";
+
+// A relay read. The fetchers in this folder only depend on this signature, so
+// the same code runs behind the browser's authenticated connection and the
+// server's anonymous one.
+export type Query = (filter: Filter) => Promise<Event[]>;
+
+// Drive a subscription on an already-open relay and resolve at EOSE.
+export function relayQuery(relay: AbstractRelay): Query {
+  return (filter) =>
+    new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const events: Event[] = [];
+      const sub = relay.subscribe([filter], {
+        onevent(e) {
+          events.push(e);
+        },
+        oneose() {
+          sub.close();
+          resolve(events);
+        },
+        onclose() {
+          resolve(events);
+        },
+      });
+    });
+}
+
+export function tag(e: Event, name: string): string | undefined {
+  return e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === name)?.[1];
+}
+
+export function tags(e: Event, name: string): string[] {
+  return e.tags.filter((t) => t[0] === name && t[1]).map((t) => t[1]);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/resources.ts b/src/lib/forum/resources.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6c0181
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/resources.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { tag, type Query } from "./query";
+
+export type Resource = {
+  id: string;
+  slug: string; // NIP-23 `d` tag — also the resource URL slug
+  title: string;
+  content: string; // markdown body
+  position?: number;
+  pubkey: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+};
+
+// Positioned resources first (ascending), then alphabetical by title.
+function compare(a: Resource, b: Resource): number {
+  const ap = a.position;
+  const bp = b.position;
+  if (ap !== undefined && bp !== undefined)
+    return ap !== bp ? ap - bp : a.title.localeCompare(b.title);
+  if (ap !== undefined) return -1;
+  if (bp !== undefined) return 1;
+  return a.title.localeCompare(b.title);
+}
+
+// Every `squalk-resource` article, newest per slug. Not admin-filtered: the
+// caller applies the admin set, which may resolve later than this fetch.
+export async function fetchResources(q: Query): Promise<Resource[]> {
+  const events = await q({ kinds: [30023], "#t": ["squalk-resource"] });
+  const bySlug = new Map<string, Resource>();
+  for (const e of events) {
+    const slug = tag(e, "d");
+    if (!slug) continue;
+    const existing = bySlug.get(slug);
+    if (existing && existing.createdAt >= e.created_at) continue;
+    const posTag = tag(e, "position");
+    const pos = posTag !== undefined ? Number(posTag) : NaN;
+    bySlug.set(slug, {
+      id: e.id,
+      slug,
+      title: tag(e, "title") ?? slug,
+      content: e.content,
+      position: Number.isFinite(pos) ? pos : undefined,
+      pubkey: e.pubkey,
+      createdAt: e.created_at,
+    });
+  }
+  return [...bySlug.values()].sort(compare);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/thread.ts b/src/lib/forum/thread.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ffd263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/thread.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { tag, tags, type Query } from "./query";
+
+export type PostData = {
+  id: string;
+  pubkey: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+  content: string;
+};
+
+export type ThreadDetail = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  labels: string[];
+  groupId: string; // the thread's NIP-29 group (its `h` tag)
+  op: PostData;
+  replies: PostData[];
+};
+
+// A thread (kind 11) with its flat replies (kind 1111), oldest first. Null
+// when the relay returns nothing: no such thread, or one the visitor can't
+// read. `fallbackGroup` covers OPs missing an `h` tag.
+export async function fetchThread(
+  q: Query,
+  id: string,
+  fallbackGroup = "",
+): Promise<ThreadDetail | null> {
+  const [threadEvents, replyEvents] = await Promise.all([
+    q({ kinds: [11], ids: [id] }),
+    q({ kinds: [1111], "#E": [id] }),
+  ]);
+  const event = threadEvents[0];
+  if (!event) return null;
+  const replies = replyEvents.sort((a, b) => a.created_at - b.created_at);
+  return {
+    id: event.id,
+    title: tag(event, "title") ?? "(untitled)",
+    labels: tags(event, "t"),
+    groupId: tag(event, "h") ?? fallbackGroup,
+    op: {
+      id: event.id,
+      pubkey: event.pubkey,
+      createdAt: event.created_at,
+      content: event.content,
+    },
+    replies: replies.map((r) => ({
+      id: r.id,
+      pubkey: r.pubkey,
+      createdAt: r.created_at,
+      content: r.content,
+    })),
+  };
+}
+
+export function threadAuthors(t: ThreadDetail): string[] {
+  return [...new Set([t.op.pubkey, ...t.replies.map((r) => r.pubkey)])];
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/forum/threads.ts b/src/lib/forum/threads.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c80bb86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/forum/threads.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+import type { Event } from "@nostr/tools/core";
+import { tag, tags, type Query } from "./query";
+
+export const PAGE_SIZE = 30;
+const WALK_LIMIT = 150; // Events per walk query (~5x PAGE_SIZE)
+const WALK_MAX_ITERS = 12;
+
+export type SortMode = "active" | "new";
+
+export type ThreadData = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  labels: string[];
+  authorPubkey: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+  replyCount: number;
+  latestAt: number;
+  latestPubkey: string;
+  replierPubkeys: string[]; // unique reply authors, excl. OP, max 4
+};
+
+export type ThreadPage = {
+  threads: ThreadData[];
+  nextCursor: number | null; // sort-key value of the last thread
+  done: boolean;
+};
+
+export type PageRequest = {
+  sort: SortMode;
+  until: number; // upper bound on the sort key (inclusive)
+  snapshotAt: number; // upper time bound for reply counts, frozen per listing
+  exclude?: Set<string>; // thread ids already shown
+  n?: number;
+};
+
+type SliceItem = {
+  id: string;
+  latestAt: number;
+  latestPubkey: string;
+  op?: Event;
+};
+
+type Slice = { items: SliceItem[]; nextCursor: number | null; done: boolean };
+
+function threadIdOf(e: Event): string | undefined {
+  return e.kind === 11 ? e.id : tag(e, "E");
+}
+
+// Walk the combined OP + reply stream newest-first, collecting up to `n` unique
+// threads not already shown. The first event seen for a thread defines its
+// activity timestamp.
+async function fetchActivitySlice(
+  q: Query,
+  groupId: string,
+  until: number,
+  exclude: Set<string>,
+  n: number,
+): Promise<Slice> {
+  const collected = new Map<string, SliceItem>();
+  let cur = until;
+  let done = false;
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < WALK_MAX_ITERS && collected.size < n; i++) {
+    const events = await q({
+      kinds: [11, 1111],
+      "#h": [groupId],
+      until: cur,
+      limit: WALK_LIMIT,
+    });
+    if (events.length === 0) {
+      done = true;
+      break;
+    }
+
+    events.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
+    let oldest = cur;
+    for (const e of events) {
+      oldest = Math.min(oldest, e.created_at);
+      const id = threadIdOf(e);
+      if (!id || exclude.has(id)) continue;
+      const seen = collected.get(id);
+      if (seen) {
+        // Grab the OP from the stream when a thread was first seen via a reply,
+        // so we avoid the by-id backfill the group relay truncates
+        if (!seen.op && e.kind === 11) seen.op = e;
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (collected.size >= n) continue; // Page full; keep scanning for OPs
+      collected.set(id, {
+        id,
+        latestAt: e.created_at,
+        latestPubkey: e.pubkey,
+        op: e.kind === 11 ? e : undefined,
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (events.length < WALK_LIMIT) {
+      done = true;
+      break;
+    }
+    if (oldest >= cur) break; // No progress (single timestamp floods the window)
+    cur = oldest; // Inclusive; thread-level dedupe absorbs re-reads
+  }
+
+  const items = [...collected.values()].sort((a, b) => b.latestAt - a.latestAt);
+  const nextCursor = items.length > 0 ? items[items.length - 1].latestAt : null;
+  return { items, nextCursor, done };
+}
+
+// Chronological-by-creation slice: just OPs ordered by created_at. No reply
+// data is needed to order them (stable cursor), keeping the path cheap; reply
+// counts are still attached later via enrichment.
+async function fetchNewSlice(
+  q: Query,
+  groupId: string,
+  until: number,
+  exclude: Set<string>,
+  n: number,
+): Promise<Slice> {
+  const ops = await q({
+    kinds: [11],
+    "#h": [groupId],
+    until,
+    limit: n + 10, // headroom for boundary OPs re-read at the inclusive cursor
+  });
+  ops.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
+  const fresh = ops.filter((e) => !exclude.has(e.id));
+  const slice = fresh.slice(0, n);
+  const items: SliceItem[] = slice.map((op) => ({
+    id: op.id,
+    latestAt: op.created_at,
+    latestPubkey: op.pubkey,
+    op,
+  }));
+  const done = ops.length < n + 10;
+  const last = slice[slice.length - 1] ?? ops[ops.length - 1];
+  const nextCursor = last ? last.created_at : null;
+  return { items, nextCursor, done };
+}
+
+async function enrichWithReplies(
+  q: Query,
+  groupId: string,
+  items: SliceItem[],
+  snapshotAt: number,
+): Promise<Map<string, { count: number; repliers: string[] }>> {
+  const result = new Map<string, { count: number; repliers: string[] }>();
+  if (items.length === 0) return result;
+  const replies = await q({
+    kinds: [1111],
+    "#h": [groupId],
+    "#E": items.map((it) => it.id),
+    until: snapshotAt,
+    limit: 5000,
+  });
+  const acc = new Map<string, { count: number; pubkeys: Set<string> }>();
+  for (const r of replies) {
+    const root = tag(r, "E");
+    if (!root) continue;
+    let a = acc.get(root);
+    if (!a) {
+      a = { count: 0, pubkeys: new Set() };
+      acc.set(root, a);
+    }
+    a.count++;
+    a.pubkeys.add(r.pubkey);
+  }
+  for (const it of items) {
+    const a = acc.get(it.id);
+    const repliers = a
+      ? [...a.pubkeys].filter((p) => p !== it.op?.pubkey).slice(0, 4)
+      : [];
+    result.set(it.id, { count: a?.count ?? 0, repliers });
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+async function buildThreads(
+  q: Query,
+  groupId: string,
+  items: SliceItem[],
+  snapshotAt: number,
+): Promise<ThreadData[]> {
+  const missing = items.filter((it) => !it.op);
+  if (missing.length > 0) {
+    const fetched = await Promise.all(
+      missing.map((it) => q({ kinds: [11], "#h": [groupId], ids: [it.id] })),
+    );
+    const byId = new Map<string, Event>();
+    for (const evs of fetched) for (const e of evs) byId.set(e.id, e);
+    for (const it of items) if (!it.op) it.op = byId.get(it.id);
+  }
+  const enriched = await enrichWithReplies(q, groupId, items, snapshotAt);
+  const out: ThreadData[] = [];
+  for (const it of items) {
+    const op = it.op;
+    if (!op) continue; // OP missing (deleted/unavailable) — drop the row
+    const e = enriched.get(it.id);
+    out.push({
+      id: it.id,
+      title: tag(op, "title") ?? "(untitled)",
+      labels: tags(op, "t"),
+      authorPubkey: op.pubkey,
+      createdAt: op.created_at,
+      replyCount: e?.count ?? 0,
+      latestAt: it.latestAt,
+      latestPubkey: it.latestPubkey,
+      replierPubkeys: e?.repliers ?? [],
+    });
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+// One page of a group's thread listing, in the given sort order.
+export async function fetchThreadPage(
+  q: Query,
+  groupId: string,
+  req: PageRequest,
+): Promise<ThreadPage> {
+  const exclude = req.exclude ?? new Set<string>();
+  const n = req.n ?? PAGE_SIZE;
+  const slice =
+    req.sort === "new"
+      ? await fetchNewSlice(q, groupId, req.until, exclude, n)
+      : await fetchActivitySlice(q, groupId, req.until, exclude, n);
+  const threads = await buildThreads(q, groupId, slice.items, req.snapshotAt);
+  return { threads, nextCursor: slice.nextCursor, done: slice.done };
+}
+
+export function threadPagePubkeys(threads: ThreadData[]): string[] {
+  const set = new Set<string>();
+  for (const t of threads) {
+    set.add(t.authorPubkey);
+    set.add(t.latestPubkey);
+    for (const p of t.replierPubkeys) set.add(p);
+  }
+  return [...set];
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/group.svelte.ts b/src/lib/group.svelte.ts
index 289e50f..c2612a1 100644
--- a/src/lib/group.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/group.svelte.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,10 @@
 import { GROUP_ID, MODE } from "$lib/config";
 import { queryForum } from "$lib/relay";
 import { groupsStore } from "$lib/groups.svelte";
+import { fetchGroup, type GroupMetadata } from "$lib/forum/groups";
 
-export type GroupMetadata = {
-  name: string;
-  picture?: string;
-  about?: string;
-  isPrivate: boolean;
-  isClosed: boolean;
-  isRestricted: boolean;
-  isHidden: boolean;
-  admins: string[];
-};
+export type { GroupMetadata };
 
-// NIP-29 access flags: private = members-only read, restricted = members-only
-// write, closed = join requests ignored, hidden = metadata hidden from non-members.
 export type GroupFlags = {
   isPrivate: boolean;
   isClosed: boolean;
@@ -36,33 +26,12 @@ export const groupStore = {
 
 export async function loadGroup() {
   try {
-    const events = await queryForum({
-      kinds: [39000, 39001],
-      "#d": [GROUP_ID],
-    });
-    const event = events.find((e) => e.kind === 39000);
-    if (!event) return;
-    // Admins live in the NIP-29 kind 39001 event as `p` tags.
-    const adminsEvent = events.find((e) => e.kind === 39001);
-    const admins =
-      adminsEvent?.tags.filter((t) => t[0] === "p").map((t) => t[1]) ?? [];
-    group = {
-      name: event.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "name")?.[1] ?? GROUP_ID,
-      picture: event.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "picture")?.[1],
-      about: event.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "about")?.[1],
-      isPrivate: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "private"),
-      isClosed: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "closed"),
-      isRestricted: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "restricted"),
-      isHidden: event.tags.some((t) => t[0] === "hidden"),
-      admins,
-    };
+    group = (await fetchGroup(queryForum, GROUP_ID)) ?? group;
   } finally {
     loaded = true;
   }
 }
 
-// A group's access flags from whichever store holds them: full mode keeps every
-// room in the groups list, simple mode has the single active group's metadata.
 export function getGroupFlags(groupId: string): GroupFlags | null {
   if (MODE === "full") {
     const g = groupsStore.list.find((x) => x.id === groupId);
diff --git a/src/lib/groups.svelte.ts b/src/lib/groups.svelte.ts
index c881b24..25173d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/groups.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/groups.svelte.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,7 @@
 import { queryForum } from "$lib/relay";
+import { fetchGroups, type GroupSummary } from "$lib/forum/groups";
 
-export type GroupSummary = {
-  id: string; // NIP-29 group id (the `d` tag) — also the room URL slug
-  name: string;
-  picture?: string;
-  about?: string;
-  createdAt: number;
-  flags: string[]; // special NIP-29 markers present (private, hidden, closed, restricted)
-};
-
-// NIP-29 metadata markers we surface as room tags, in display order.
-const SPECIAL_FLAGS = ["private", "hidden", "closed", "restricted"];
+export type { GroupSummary };
 
 let list = $state<GroupSummary[]>([]);
 let loaded = $state(false);
@@ -24,26 +15,9 @@ export const groupsStore = {
   },
 };
 
-// Fetch every group the relay hosts. NIP-29 publishes one kind 39000 metadata
-// event per group, so an unfiltered query enumerates them all.
 export async function loadGroups() {
   try {
-    const events = await queryForum({ kinds: [39000] });
-    list = events
-      .map((e) => {
-        const id = e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "d")?.[1] ?? "";
-        return {
-          id,
-          name: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "name")?.[1] ?? id,
-          picture: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "picture")?.[1],
-          about: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "about")?.[1],
-          createdAt: e.created_at,
-          flags: SPECIAL_FLAGS.filter((f) => e.tags.some((t) => t[0] === f)),
-        };
-      })
-      .filter((g) => g.id)
-      // Oldest first.
-      .sort((a, b) => a.createdAt - b.createdAt);
+    list = await fetchGroups(queryForum);
   } finally {
     loaded = true;
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/overview.svelte.ts b/src/lib/overview.svelte.ts
index 79a8550..0dcfeac 100644
--- a/src/lib/overview.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/overview.svelte.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,15 @@
-import type { AbstractRelay } from "@nostr/tools/abstract-relay";
-import type { Event } from "@nostr/tools/core";
-import type { Filter } from "@nostr/tools/filter";
 import { loadNostrUser, type NostrUser } from "$lib/gadgets";
 import { ensureForumRelay } from "$lib/relay";
 import { ingestNostrUser } from "$lib/profiles.svelte";
+import { relayQuery } from "$lib/forum/query";
+import {
+  fetchOverview,
+  overviewPubkeys,
+  type RecentThread,
+  type RoomActivity,
+} from "$lib/forum/overview";
 
-export type RoomActivity = {
-  latestAt: number;
-  latestPubkey: string;
-};
-
-export type RecentThread = {
-  id: string;
-  title: string;
-  groupId: string;
-  authorPubkey: string;
-  createdAt: number;
-};
+export type { RecentThread, RoomActivity };
 
 let activity = $state<Record<string, RoomActivity>>({});
 let admins = $state<Record<string, string>>({}); // room id -> first admin pubkey
@@ -43,24 +36,6 @@ export const overviewStore = {
   },
 };
 
-function querySync(relay: AbstractRelay, filter: Filter): Promise<Event[]> {
-  return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const events: Event[] = [];
-    const sub = relay.subscribe([filter], {
-      onevent(e) {
-        events.push(e);
-      },
-      oneose() {
-        sub.close();
-        resolve(events);
-      },
-      onclose() {
-        resolve(events);
-      },
-    });
-  });
-}
-
 async function loadProfile(pubkey: string) {
   if (profiles[pubkey]) return;
   const user = await loadNostrUser(pubkey);
@@ -77,54 +52,14 @@ export async function loadOverview(roomIds: string[]) {
   loadedKey = key;
 
   loading = true;
-  const relay = await ensureForumRelay();
   try {
-    // One tiny query per room for its newest event (thread or reply).
-    const latest = await Promise.all(
-      roomIds.map((id) =>
-        querySync(relay, { kinds: [11, 1111], "#h": [id], limit: 1 }),
-      ),
-    );
-    const act: Record<string, RoomActivity> = {};
-    roomIds.forEach((id, i) => {
-      const e = latest[i][0];
-      if (e) act[id] = { latestAt: e.created_at, latestPubkey: e.pubkey };
-    });
-    activity = act;
-
-    // Each room's admin (NIP-29 kind 39001, first `p` tag) for the card byline.
-    const adminEvents = await Promise.all(
-      roomIds.map((id) => querySync(relay, { kinds: [39001], "#d": [id] })),
-    );
-    const adm: Record<string, string> = {};
-    roomIds.forEach((id, i) => {
-      const pk = adminEvents[i][0]?.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "p")?.[1];
-      if (pk) adm[id] = pk;
-    });
-    admins = adm;
-
-    // Most recent discussions (thread OPs) across all rooms. The group relay
-    // truncates multi-value "#h" filters, so query each room and merge.
-    const perRoom = await Promise.all(
-      roomIds.map((id) =>
-        querySync(relay, { kinds: [11], "#h": [id], limit: 20 }),
-      ),
-    );
-    const threads = perRoom.flat();
-    threads.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
-    recent = threads.slice(0, 20).map((e) => ({
-      id: e.id,
-      title: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "title")?.[1] ?? "(untitled)",
-      groupId: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "h")?.[1] ?? "",
-      authorPubkey: e.pubkey,
-      createdAt: e.created_at,
-    }));
-
-    for (const a of Object.values(act)) loadProfile(a.latestPubkey);
-    for (const pk of Object.values(adm)) loadProfile(pk);
-    for (const t of recent) loadProfile(t.authorPubkey);
+    const q = relayQuery(await ensureForumRelay());
+    const o = await fetchOverview(q, roomIds);
+    activity = o.activity;
+    admins = o.admins;
+    recent = o.recent;
+    overviewPubkeys(o).forEach(loadProfile);
   } finally {
-    // shared forum connection is long-lived — don't close it here
     loading = false;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/partials.svelte.ts b/src/lib/partials.svelte.ts
index ba45c49..9545d7c 100644
--- a/src/lib/partials.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/partials.svelte.ts
@@ -1,63 +1,29 @@
 import { adminPubkeys } from "$lib/admins.svelte";
 import { queryForum } from "$lib/relay";
+import {
+  fetchPartials,
+  pickPartial,
+  type Partial,
+  type PartialSlot,
+} from "$lib/forum/partials";
 
-// Named slots a partial can fill. The NIP-23 `d` tag carries the slot name.
-export type PartialSlot = "home" | "contacts";
-const SLOTS = new Set<string>(["home", "contacts"]);
-
-export type Partial = {
-  id: string;
-  slot: PartialSlot;
-  title: string;
-  content: string; // markdown body
-  pubkey: string;
-  createdAt: number;
-};
+export type { Partial, PartialSlot };
 
 let all = $state<Partial[]>([]);
 let loaded = $state(false);
 
 export const partialsStore = {
-  // The newest admin-authored partial for a slot, or undefined. The relay query
-  // is open, so the trusted admin set is the gate; resolving the winner here
-  // (rather than at load time) keeps a non-admin from shadowing it with a newer
-  // event, and picks up the admin set once it finishes loading in full mode.
   get(slot: PartialSlot): Partial | undefined {
-    const admins = new Set(adminPubkeys.list);
-    let best: Partial | undefined;
-    for (const p of all) {
-      if (p.slot !== slot || !admins.has(p.pubkey)) continue;
-      if (!best || p.createdAt > best.createdAt) best = p;
-    }
-    return best;
+    return pickPartial(all, slot, adminPubkeys.list);
   },
   get loaded() {
     return loaded;
   },
 };
 
-// Partials are kind 30023 (NIP-23 long-form) tagged ["t", "squalk-partial"];
-// the `d` tag names the slot the article fills.
 export async function loadPartials() {
   try {
-    const events = await queryForum({
-      kinds: [30023],
-      "#t": ["squalk-partial"],
-    });
-    const next: Partial[] = [];
-    for (const e of events) {
-      const slot = e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "d")?.[1];
-      if (!slot || !SLOTS.has(slot)) continue;
-      next.push({
-        id: e.id,
-        slot: slot as PartialSlot,
-        title: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "title")?.[1] ?? slot,
-        content: e.content,
-        pubkey: e.pubkey,
-        createdAt: e.created_at,
-      });
-    }
-    all = next;
+    all = await fetchPartials(queryForum);
   } finally {
     loaded = true;
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/resources.svelte.ts b/src/lib/resources.svelte.ts
index 7d4b321..2e29e26 100644
--- a/src/lib/resources.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/resources.svelte.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,15 @@
 import { adminPubkeys } from "$lib/admins.svelte";
 import { queryForum } from "$lib/relay";
+import { fetchResources, type Resource } from "$lib/forum/resources";
 
-export type Resource = {
-  id: string;
-  slug: string; // NIP-23 `d` tag — also the resource URL slug
-  title: string;
-  content: string; // markdown body
-  position?: number;
-  pubkey: string;
-  createdAt: number;
-};
+export type { Resource };
 
 let all = $state<Resource[]>([]);
 let loaded = $state(false);
 
+// Only admin-authored resources are surfaced: the relay query is open, so the
+// admin set is the trust gate.
 export const resourcesStore = {
-  // Only resources authored by an admin are surfaced; the relay query is
-  // open, so the trusted admin set is the gate.
   get list() {
     const admins = new Set(adminPubkeys.list);
     return all.filter((r) => admins.has(r.pubkey));
@@ -26,45 +19,9 @@ export const resourcesStore = {
   },
 };
 
-// Positioned resources come first by ascending `position`; the rest follow
-// alphabetically by title. Equal positions fall back to title order.
-function compare(a: Resource, b: Resource): number {
-  const ap = a.position;
-  const bp = b.position;
-  if (ap !== undefined && bp !== undefined)
-    return ap !== bp ? ap - bp : a.title.localeCompare(b.title);
-  if (ap !== undefined) return -1;
-  if (bp !== undefined) return 1;
-  return a.title.localeCompare(b.title);
-}
-
-// Resources are kind 30023 (NIP-23 long-form) tagged ["t", "squalk-resource"].
 export async function loadResources() {
   try {
-    const events = await queryForum({
-      kinds: [30023],
-      "#t": ["squalk-resource"],
-    });
-    // Addressable events: keep the newest per `d` slug.
-    const bySlug = new Map<string, Resource>();
-    for (const e of events) {
-      const slug = e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "d")?.[1];
-      if (!slug) continue;
-      const existing = bySlug.get(slug);
-      if (existing && existing.createdAt >= e.created_at) continue;
-      const posTag = e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "position")?.[1];
-      const pos = posTag !== undefined ? Number(posTag) : NaN;
-      bySlug.set(slug, {
-        id: e.id,
-        slug,
-        title: e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "title")?.[1] ?? slug,
-        content: e.content,
-        position: Number.isFinite(pos) ? pos : undefined,
-        pubkey: e.pubkey,
-        createdAt: e.created_at,
-      });
-    }
-    all = [...bySlug.values()].sort(compare);
+    all = await fetchResources(queryForum);
   } finally {
     loaded = true;
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts b/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts
index d91a382..66623a7 100644
--- a/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts
@@ -10,25 +10,16 @@ import {
   buildPTagHints,
 } from "$lib/mentions";
 import { convertForumUrls } from "$lib/linkify";
+import {
+  fetchThread,
+  type PostData,
+  type ThreadDetail,
+} from "$lib/forum/thread";
+
+export type { PostData };
 
 const isNostrId = (id: string) => /^[0-9a-f]{64}$/.test(id);
 
-export type PostData = {
-  id: string;
-  pubkey: string;
-  createdAt: number;
-  content: string;
-};
-
-type ThreadDetail = {
-  id: string;
-  title: string;
-  labels: string[];
-  groupId: string; // the thread's NIP-29 group (its `h` tag)
-  op: PostData;
-  replies: PostData[];
-};
-
 let detail = $state<ThreadDetail | null>(null);
 let profiles = $state<Record<string, NostrUser>>({});
 // "notfound" means the relay returned nothing — either no such thread or it sits
@@ -104,39 +95,13 @@ export async function loadThread(id: string) {
     return;
   }
 
-  const [threadEvents, replyEvents] = await Promise.all([
-    queryForum({ kinds: [11], ids: [id] }),
-    queryForum({ kinds: [1111], "#E": [id] }),
-  ]);
-
-  const event = threadEvents[0];
-  if (!event) {
+  const next = await fetchThread(queryForum, id, GROUP_ID);
+  if (!next) {
     status = "notfound";
     return;
   }
-
-  const replies = replyEvents.sort((a, b) => a.created_at - b.created_at);
-
-  detail = {
-    id: event.id,
-    title: event.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "title")?.[1] ?? "(untitled)",
-    labels: event.tags.filter((t) => t[0] === "t" && t[1]).map((t) => t[1]),
-    groupId: event.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "h")?.[1] ?? GROUP_ID,
-    op: {
-      id: event.id,
-      pubkey: event.pubkey,
-      createdAt: event.created_at,
-      content: event.content,
-    },
-    replies: replies.map((r) => ({
-      id: r.id,
-      pubkey: r.pubkey,
-      createdAt: r.created_at,
-      content: r.content,
-    })),
-  };
-
-  [event.pubkey, ...replies.map((r) => r.pubkey)].forEach(loadProfile);
+  detail = next;
+  [next.op.pubkey, ...next.replies.map((r) => r.pubkey)].forEach(loadProfile);
   status = "ready";
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/threads.svelte.ts b/src/lib/threads.svelte.ts
index ff31a9a..1ce3c1e 100644
--- a/src/lib/threads.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/threads.svelte.ts
@@ -1,27 +1,14 @@
-import type { AbstractRelay } from "@nostr/tools/abstract-relay";
-import type { Event } from "@nostr/tools/core";
-import type { Filter } from "@nostr/tools/filter";
 import { loadNostrUser, type NostrUser } from "$lib/gadgets";
 import { ensureForumRelay } from "$lib/relay";
 import { ingestNostrUser } from "$lib/profiles.svelte";
+import { relayQuery } from "$lib/forum/query";
+import {
+  fetchThreadPage,
+  type SortMode,
+  type ThreadData,
+} from "$lib/forum/threads";
 
-const PAGE_SIZE = 30;
-const WALK_LIMIT = 150; // Events per walk query (~5x PAGE_SIZE)
-const WALK_MAX_ITERS = 12;
-
-export type SortMode = "active" | "new";
-
-export type ThreadData = {
-  id: string;
-  title: string;
-  labels: string[];
-  authorPubkey: string;
-  createdAt: number;
-  replyCount: number;
-  latestAt: number;
-  latestPubkey: string;
-  replierPubkeys: string[]; // unique reply authors, excl. OP, max 4
-};
+export type { SortMode, ThreadData };
 
 let threads = $state<ThreadData[]>([]);
 let profiles = $state<Record<string, NostrUser>>({});
@@ -59,238 +46,29 @@ async function loadProfile(pubkey: string) {
   ingestNostrUser(user);
 }
 
-function querySync(relay: AbstractRelay, filter: Filter): Promise<Event[]> {
-  return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const events: Event[] = [];
-    const sub = relay.subscribe([filter], {
-      onevent(e) {
-        events.push(e);
-      },
-      oneose() {
-        sub.close();
-        resolve(events);
-      },
-      onclose() {
-        resolve(events);
-      },
-    });
-  });
-}
-
-function threadIdOf(e: Event): string | undefined {
-  return e.kind === 11 ? e.id : e.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "E")?.[1];
-}
-
-type SliceItem = {
-  id: string;
-  latestAt: number;
-  latestPubkey: string;
-  op?: Event;
-};
-
-// Walk the combined OP + reply stream newest-first, collecting up to `n` unique
-// threads not already shown. The first event seen for a thread defines its
-// activity timestamp. Returns the slice plus the cursor for the next call.
-async function fetchActivitySlice(
-  relay: AbstractRelay,
-  groupId: string,
-  until: number,
-  exclude: Set<string>,
-  n: number,
-): Promise<{ items: SliceItem[]; nextCursor: number | null; done: boolean }> {
-  const collected = new Map<string, SliceItem>();
-  let cur = until;
-  let done = false;
-
-  for (let i = 0; i < WALK_MAX_ITERS && collected.size < n; i++) {
-    const events = await querySync(relay, {
-      kinds: [11, 1111],
-      "#h": [groupId],
-      until: cur,
-      limit: WALK_LIMIT,
-    });
-    if (events.length === 0) {
-      done = true;
-      break;
-    }
-
-    events.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
-    let oldest = cur;
-    for (const e of events) {
-      oldest = Math.min(oldest, e.created_at);
-      const id = threadIdOf(e);
-      if (!id || exclude.has(id)) continue;
-      const seen = collected.get(id);
-      if (seen) {
-        // Grab the OP from the stream when a thread was first seen via a reply,
-        // so we avoid the by-id backfill the group relay truncates
-        if (!seen.op && e.kind === 11) seen.op = e;
-        continue;
-      }
-      if (collected.size >= n) continue; // Page full; keep scanning for OPs
-      collected.set(id, {
-        id,
-        latestAt: e.created_at,
-        latestPubkey: e.pubkey,
-        op: e.kind === 11 ? e : undefined,
-      });
-    }
-
-    if (events.length < WALK_LIMIT) {
-      done = true;
-      break;
-    }
-    if (oldest >= cur) break; // No progress (single timestamp floods the window)
-    cur = oldest; // Inclusive; thread-level dedupe absorbs re-reads
-  }
-
-  const items = [...collected.values()].sort((a, b) => b.latestAt - a.latestAt);
-  const nextCursor = items.length > 0 ? items[items.length - 1].latestAt : null;
-  return { items, nextCursor, done };
-}
-
-// Chronological-by-creation slice: just OPs ordered by created_at. No reply
-// data is needed to order them (stable cursor), keeping the path cheap; reply
-// counts are still attached later via enrichment.
-async function fetchNewSlice(
-  relay: AbstractRelay,
-  groupId: string,
-  until: number,
-  exclude: Set<string>,
-  n: number,
-): Promise<{ items: SliceItem[]; nextCursor: number | null; done: boolean }> {
-  const ops = await querySync(relay, {
-    kinds: [11],
-    "#h": [groupId],
-    until,
-    limit: n + 10, // headroom for boundary OPs re-read at the inclusive cursor
-  });
-  ops.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
-  const fresh = ops.filter((e) => !exclude.has(e.id));
-  const slice = fresh.slice(0, n);
-
-  const items: SliceItem[] = slice.map((op) => ({
-    id: op.id,
-    latestAt: op.created_at,
-    latestPubkey: op.pubkey,
-    op,
-  }));
-  const done = ops.length < n + 10;
-  const last = slice[slice.length - 1] ?? ops[ops.length - 1];
-  const nextCursor = last ? last.created_at : null;
-  return { items, nextCursor, done };
-}
-
-// Reply enrichment (exact counts + sampled repliers), bounded by the frozen
-// snapshot. Isolated so the future creation-by-date view can skip it entirely.
-async function enrichWithReplies(
-  relay: AbstractRelay,
-  groupId: string,
-  items: SliceItem[],
-): Promise<Map<string, { count: number; repliers: string[] }>> {
-  const result = new Map<string, { count: number; repliers: string[] }>();
-  if (items.length === 0) return result;
-
-  const replies = await querySync(relay, {
-    kinds: [1111],
-    "#h": [groupId],
-    "#E": items.map((it) => it.id),
-    until: snapshotAt,
-    limit: 5000,
-  });
-
-  const acc = new Map<string, { count: number; pubkeys: Set<string> }>();
-  for (const r of replies) {
-    const root = r.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "E")?.[1];
-    if (!root) continue;
-    let a = acc.get(root);
-    if (!a) {
-      a = { count: 0, pubkeys: new Set() };
-      acc.set(root, a);
-    }
-    a.count++;
-    a.pubkeys.add(r.pubkey);
-  }
-
-  for (const it of items) {
-    const a = acc.get(it.id);
-    const repliers = a
-      ? [...a.pubkeys].filter((p) => p !== it.op?.pubkey).slice(0, 4)
-      : [];
-    result.set(it.id, { count: a?.count ?? 0, repliers });
-  }
-  return result;
-}
-
-async function buildThreads(
-  relay: AbstractRelay,
-  groupId: string,
-  items: SliceItem[],
-): Promise<ThreadData[]> {
-  // Backfill OPs that fell outside the activity window. The group relay
-  // truncates multi-id queries, so fetch each one on its own.
-  const missing = items.filter((it) => !it.op);
-  if (missing.length > 0) {
-    const fetched = await Promise.all(
-      missing.map((it) =>
-        querySync(relay, { kinds: [11], "#h": [groupId], ids: [it.id] }),
-      ),
-    );
-    const byId = new Map<string, Event>();
-    for (const evs of fetched) for (const e of evs) byId.set(e.id, e);
-    for (const it of items) if (!it.op) it.op = byId.get(it.id);
-  }
-
-  const enriched = await enrichWithReplies(relay, groupId, items);
-
-  const out: ThreadData[] = [];
-  for (const it of items) {
-    const op = it.op;
-    if (!op) continue; // OP missing (deleted/unavailable) — drop the row
-    const e = enriched.get(it.id);
-    out.push({
-      id: it.id,
-      title: op.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "title")?.[1] ?? "(untitled)",
-      labels: op.tags.filter((t) => t[0] === "t" && t[1]).map((t) => t[1]),
-      authorPubkey: op.pubkey,
-      createdAt: op.created_at,
-      replyCount: e?.count ?? 0,
-      latestAt: it.latestAt,
-      latestPubkey: it.latestPubkey,
-      replierPubkeys: e?.repliers ?? [],
-    });
-  }
-  return out;
-}
-
 async function runLoad(append: boolean, groupId: string) {
   const id = ++reqId;
   if (append) loadingMore = true;
   else loading = true;
-
-  const relay = await ensureForumRelay();
+  // Paged loads drive their own subscriptions on the shared connection
+  const q = relayQuery(await ensureForumRelay());
   try {
-    const until = append ? (cursor ?? snapshotAt) : snapshotAt;
-    const exclude = new Set(threads.map((t) => t.id));
-    const slice =
-      sortMode === "new"
-        ? await fetchNewSlice(relay, groupId, until, exclude, PAGE_SIZE)
-        : await fetchActivitySlice(relay, groupId, until, exclude, PAGE_SIZE);
-    const built = await buildThreads(relay, groupId, slice.items);
-
+    const page = await fetchThreadPage(q, groupId, {
+      sort: sortMode,
+      until: append ? (cursor ?? snapshotAt) : snapshotAt,
+      snapshotAt,
+      exclude: new Set(threads.map((t) => t.id)),
+    });
     if (id !== reqId) return; // Superseded by a newer load — discard results
-
-    threads = append ? [...threads, ...built] : built;
-    cursor = slice.nextCursor ?? cursor;
-    exhausted = slice.done || built.length === 0;
-
-    for (const t of built) {
+    threads = append ? [...threads, ...page.threads] : page.threads;
+    cursor = page.nextCursor ?? cursor;
+    exhausted = page.done || page.threads.length === 0;
+    for (const t of page.threads) {
       loadProfile(t.authorPubkey);
       loadProfile(t.latestPubkey);
       for (const p of t.replierPubkeys) loadProfile(p);
     }
   } finally {
-    // shared forum connection is long-lived — don't close it here
     if (id === reqId) {
       if (append) loadingMore = false;
       else loading = false;